Folding book toy

ABSTRACT

A booklike toy which can be opened to display up to four different stage settings, each setting including a pair of walls at right angles and a floor. The toy is formed from a single sheet of thin cardboard formed with a plurality of successive page portions positioned in a row and separated by folding lines for folding, accordion style, into a book. The sheet also includes platform portions, each extending laterally from a page portion, a pair of adjacent platform portions glued together in a lap joint so they lie taut when the adjacent pages are opened to a 90* angle. The sheet also includes a pair of cover portions with a spine strip between them, the first and second cover portions respectively glued to a first and last of the pages to create a hard-cover book appearance.

United States Patent Primary ExaminerF. Barry Shay Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold Attorney-Seymour A. Scholnick ABSTRACT: A booklike toy which can be opened to display up to four different stage settings, each setting including a pair of walls at right angles and a floor. The toy is formed from a single sheet of thin cardboard formed with a plurality of successive page portions positioned in a row and separated by folding lines for folding, accordion style, into a book. The sheet also includes platform portions, each extending laterally from a page portion, a pair of adjacent platform portions glued together in a lap joint so they lie taut when the adjacent pages are opened to a 90 angle. The sheet also includes a pair of cover portions with a spine strip between them, the first and second cover portions respectively glued to a first and last of the pages to create a hard-cover book appearance.

FOLDING BOOK TOY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to folding toys.

2. Description of the Prior Art An entertaining toy is provided by foldable stages held in a book form, wherein a child can separate a pair of leaves to display a decorated stage with a pair of walls and a floor. The different stages can be formed separately and held together by a spiral binding. However, the formulation, stacking, and binding involve many steps which results in appreciable cost. In addition, a spiral-type binding is generally not as attractive as a binding with a spine, which more closely represents a typical hard-cover book, and which can be held on a bookshelf with the title showing on the spine.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a booklike toy of the type whose leaves can be opened to from stage settings, which can be produced in a very economical manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an economical booklike toy with covers that closely resemble those of typical hard-cover books.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a folding toy is provided which is economical to construct and which has an attractive appearance. The toy is formed from a single sheet of thin cardboard or other material, with a row of successive page portions separated by folding lines and with platform portions extending laterally from each page portion. The page portions are folded accordianlike with pairs of adjacent sheets glued facewise to each other to form leaves that open like a book. The platform portions of adjacent pairs of pages are glued together to fonn a platform that is taut when the leaves are swung apart to right angles from each other. A folding line formed in each platform causes it to fold up between the adjacent leaves when the leaves are pivoted together, or closed.

In order to stiffen the first and last pages, and to conceal the inner folds where the leaves are pivotally joined, a pair of covers are formed in the same sheet from which the successive pages are formed, the covers occupying the first and second page positions in the row of pages and separated by a spine strip. The first cover portion glued facewise to the last of the successive pages while the second cover portion is glued to the next of the successive pages. The strip which joins the two cover portions serves as a book spine that conceals the inner folds of the leaves to create a hard-cover book appearance.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folding book toy constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the leaves thereof partially opened;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, with the book in a fully closed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the book of FIG. 1 in a fully opened position;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a sheet from which the folding book toy of FIG. I can be formed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a first step in the construction of a folding book toy from the sheet of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a second step in the construction of the folding book toy;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a third step in the construction of the folding book toy;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a fourth step in the construction of the folding book toy;

FIG. 10 is a partial plan view showing the manner in which the spine strip is received during opening of the toy; and

FIG. 11 is a partial plan view similar to FIG. 10, but showing the toy in a fully open position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a folding book toy 10 which includes five leaves 12, 14, l6, l8 and 20 which can be pivoted apart and together. Four platforms 22, 24, 26, 28 which extend between the lower edges of adjacent pairs of leaves, can be received between the leaves when the book is closed and which extend horizontally as floors when the book is opened. FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of the book in a completely closed configuration, with a fastener strip 30 extending between the first an last leaf to keep the book closed. FIG. 3 illustrates the book in a fully opened position wherein adjacent pairs of leaves extend at right angles to each other, and where the platforms between them extend tautly in a horizontal plane, to form four stage settings. Each stage setting has two walls and a floor, each of which can be decorated to represent a particular scene. Typically, a doll is provided, and the four stage settings represent four different scenes in a story in which the doll is the main character.

The book toy is designed so that it can be produced very economically, and so that it has an attractive appearance. FIG. 5 illustrates a sheet 32 from which the entire book toy can be constructed, except for the fastening strip 30 that holds it closed. The sheet may be considered to have 18 sections designated A through R. A first two sections A and B represent covers. Eight successive sections which serve as leaf or page portions C, E, I, K, M, O and Q represent the eight pages which form the eight walls of the four stage settings. The other sections of the sheet D, F, H, J, L, N, P and R are part of the platforms or floors. Four of the platform portions are rectangular and the other four are triangular, and each is originally joined only to a page portion. FIG. 5 shows the top face of the sheet 32, which is the face that is generally decorated, the bottom face generally not being decorated.

FIGS. 6-9 show the manner in which the sheet 32 can be folded to form the folding book toy of the invention. A first step, shown in FIG. 6 where the lower face of the sheet is on top, is to fold over and glue down five tabs 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 on cover portions A and B. The reason for providing the tabs is to create a greater thickness at the cover portions, at least along their edges, to more closely simulate a hard-cover book. After the tabs are folded over, a first page portion C is folded over, as indicated, and glued down to the cover portion B.

As shown in FIG. 7, the next page portion E is oriented at a right angle to page portion C with the platform portion F over the platform portion D. The platform portions D and F are glued or otherwise adhesively joined facewise to form the platform 22. Next, thepage portion G is folded in the direction indicated and glued facewise to the back of the page portion E. As shown in FIG. 8, the next page portion I is held at to the page portion G and their platform portions H and J are glued together, with the rectangular platform portion J on top. The next step is the folding of page portion K in the direction indicated and its gluing to the backside of page portion I. Also, the next page portion M is held at right angles to the page portion K, and their platform portions L and N are glued facewise together.

Continuing as'shown in FIG. 9, the page portion 0 is glued facewise to the back of page portion M. The page portions 0 and O are held at 90 and their platform portions P and R are glued together. Finally, the back of the last page portion 0 is glued to the back of the first cover portion A. A fastener strip may be added of the type shown at 30 in FIG. 2, if it is desired to enable tight closing of the book.

All of the eight page portions are connected together by simple folding lines. However, the two cover portions A and B are pivotally joined by pivot means in the form of a strip portion 44, which serves as a spine, each side of the spine foldably joinedto a different one of the covers. As shown in FIG. 10, the strip or spine portion 44 can accommodate the thickness of the four inner folds 46, 48, 50 and S2 of the five leaves 12-20 so that the covers can extend parallel to each other when the book is closed. The spine portion 44 therefore provides the appearance of the spine of a hard-cover book. The spine portion can have an identifying title or design printed on it which can be seen when the folding book toy is closed and stored on a bookshelf. When opening the book so that all four stage settings are opened, the spine portion 44 folds along a central folding line 54 formed thereon. The spine portion can be accommodated between the two page portion E and G, by leaving an inner portion devoid of glue and pushing the spine portion inwardly so that it fits between the sheets E and G as shown in FIG. 11. It is also possible to have the spine portion fold outwardly so that it is received between the covers A and B.

Referring again to FIG. 5, it can be seen that all of the page portions extend in a line, with successive page portions separated only by a folding line from each other, except for the two cover portions A and B. The platform portions D, F, H, .l, L. N. P and R each extend laterally from and are contiguous with one page portion and is joined to it by a folding line. The platform portions are originally (before folding and gluing) separate from each other and are connected only to their respective page portions (by a folding line). Four of the platform portions F, J, H, and R are of substantially square shape and they have diagonal folding lines 56 which substantially radiate from the folding line 58 connecting two page portions. This allows the platform portion to fold and be received within a pair of page portion. The other platform portions D, H, L, and P are triangular in shape. in the final book, each triangular platform portion is joined to the bottom of a rectangular platform portion at one side of the folding line 56 of the rectangular platform portion. This results in the platform formed by the two joined platform portions such as D and F, extending tautly when the adjacent page portions C and F are swing open to a 90 angle from each other.

Thus, the invention provides a folding book toy with several stage settings, which is economical to produce and of attractive appearance. The economical production is made possible by designing the toy so that substantially the entire book is constructed from a single sheet whose parts can be folded and glued together to form the book. An attractive appearance is enhanced by the fact that the covers of the book are still and are joined by a spine that closely represents the spine of a typical hard-cover book. Many variations in the design can be restored to. For example, more than four stage settings can be provided, although when all cannot be opened at once if each is to open to 90. The stage settings can be constructed so that each platform is taut when the pair of pages between which the platform extends are open to a different angle, such as 120. It is even possible to provide roofs for the stage settings so that they not only include two walls and a floor, but also a ceiling.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art and, consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy device for unfolding from a book shape into stage settings comprising:

a sheet having at least two successive page portions separated by folding lines, and said sheet also having a platform extending between a pair of adjacent page portions, each platform being of a length to extend tautly when the adjacent page portions between which the platform extends are opened to a predetermined angle, said platform having a fold line extending at an angle to substantially radiate from the folding line separating the pair of page portions between which the platform extends. 2. The toy described in claim 1 including first and second cover portions pivotally joined to each other and joined facewise to the first and last of said successive page portions.

3. The toy described in claim 2 wherein said first and second cover portions are joined by a spine strip, each side of said strip foldably joined to a different one of said cover portions.

4. The toy described in claim 1 wherein said platform includes first and second platform portions respectively contiguous with the first and second page portions between which the platform extends, said platform portions having regions adhesivelyjoined facewise to each other.

5. The toy described in claim I wherein said platform includes a square platform portion contiguous with a first page portion and having a diagonal folding line therein, and a trian gular platform portion contiguous with a second page portion and joined facewise to a portion of said square platform portion on one side of the folding line thereon.

6. A folding toy comprising:

a unitary sheet having a plurality of successive portions, the first portion joined to the second portion by pivot means formed in said sheet and the second and succeeding portions separated by parallel folding lines in said sheet, the second of said portions joined facewise to the third portion, and succeeding pairs of portions joined facewise to each other to form foldably joined leaves of two-sheet thickness, and the first portion joined facewise to the last portion, said pivot means formed in said sheet comprising a spine portion of a width approximately equal to the combined thicknesses of said leaves and portions and having opposite sides joined by folding lines to said first and second portions.

7. The folding toy described in claim 6 wherein said spine portion has a folding line dividing it into two narrow parts.

8. The folding toy described in claim 6 wherein said first and second portions have tabs extending along at least some of their edges and folded over onto said first and second portions whereby to increase their apparent thickness.

9. The folding toy described in claim 6 wherein said sheet includes platform portions extending tautly between the lower edges of pairs of adjacent sheets when the sheets of the pair are opened to a predetermined angle which is less than 10. A method for constructing a folding toy comprising:

forming a sheet with successive leaf portions arranged in a row and with platform portions extending from one edge of at least some of said leaf portions;

folding said sheet in alternate directions at the intersections of adjacent leaf portions;

joining pairs of successive leaf portions facewise to each other; and

joining said platform portions to portions of said sheet to extend tautly between adjacent pairs of said leaf portions which are not joined facewise to each other when they are pivoted apart to a predetermined angle.

1 l. The method described in claim 10 wherein:

said step of forming platform portions includes forming a first platform portion joined only to one of said leaf portions and a second platform portion joined only to another adjacent leaf portion; and

said step of joining said platform portions includes joining a pair of said platform portions on said adjacent leaf portions to each other so that part of each platform portion overlaps part of the other and is fastened to it.

12. The method described in claim 10 including joining a first and last of said leaf portions in facewise adjacency.

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1. A toy device for unfolding from a book shape into stage settings comprising: a sheet having at least two successive page portions separated by folding lines, and said sheet also having a platform extending between a pair of adjacent page portions, each platform being of a length to extend tautly when the adjacent page portions between which the platform extends are opened to a predetermined angle, said platform having a fold line extending at an angle to substantially radiate from the folding line separating the pair of page portions between which the platform extends.
 2. The toy described in claim 1 including first and second cover portions pivotally joined to each other and joined facewise to the first and last of said successive page portions.
 3. The toy described in claim 2 wherein said first and second cover portions are joined by a spine strip, each side of said strip foldably joined to a different one of said cover portions.
 4. The toy described in claim 1 wherein said platform includes first and second platform portions respectively contiguous with the first and second page portions between which the platform extends, said platform portions having regions adhesively joined facewise to each other.
 5. The toy described in claim 1 wherein said platform includes a square platform portion contiguous with a first page portion and having a diagonal folding line therein, and a triangular platform portion contiguous with a second page portion and joined facewise to a portion of said square platform portion on one side of the folding line thereon.
 6. A folding toy comprising: a unitary sheet having a plurality of successive portions, the first portion joined to the second portion by pivot means formed in said sheet and the second and succeeding portions separated by parallel folding lines in said sheet, the second of said portions joined facewise to the third portion, and succeeding pairs of portions joined facewise to each other to form foldably joined leaves of two-sheet thickness, and the first portion joined facewise to the last portion, said pivot means formed in said sheet comprising a spine portion of a width approximately equal to the combined thicknesses of said leaves and portions and having opposite sides joined by folding lines to said first and second portions.
 7. The folding toy described in claim 6 wherein said spine portion has a folding line dividing it into two narrow parts.
 8. The folding toy described in claim 6 wherein said first and second portions have tabs extending along at least some of their edges and folded over onto said first and second portions whereby to increase their apparent thickness.
 9. The folding toy described in claim 6 wherein said sheet includes platform portions eXtending tautly between the lower edges of pairs of adjacent sheets when the sheets of the pair are opened to a predetermined angle which is less than 180*.
 10. A method for constructing a folding toy comprising: forming a sheet with successive leaf portions arranged in a row and with platform portions extending from one edge of at least some of said leaf portions; folding said sheet in alternate directions at the intersections of adjacent leaf portions; joining pairs of successive leaf portions facewise to each other; and joining said platform portions to portions of said sheet to extend tautly between adjacent pairs of said leaf portions which are not joined facewise to each other when they are pivoted apart to a predetermined angle.
 11. The method described in claim 10 wherein: said step of forming platform portions includes forming a first platform portion joined only to one of said leaf portions and a second platform portion joined only to another adjacent leaf portion; and said step of joining said platform portions includes joining a pair of said platform portions on said adjacent leaf portions to each other so that part of each platform portion overlaps part of the other and is fastened to it.
 12. The method described in claim 10 including joining a first and last of said leaf portions in facewise adjacency. 